RedBud fires up in Buchanan, taking precautions in extreme heat

BUCHANAN, Mich. -- A major motocross event is firing up in Buchanan, but not without precautions in this extreme heat.

With the extreme heat warnings carrying through Saturday, standing outside for hours seems like the last thing anyone would want to do! But, for some 20,000, die-hard motocross fans the race at RedBud is worth every second.

With the big race on Saturday the track staff started hauling in equipment on Thursday to keep fans cool and safe.

Meanwhile, the racers have their own way of dealing with the heat on and off the track.

“I look forward to coming here every year,” explained Nick Wey, a RedBud veteran and top 10 racer. “For one the track is awesome it’s so fun for me to ride on and two you get so much encouragement going around the track.”

Wey is a Michigan native and he’s been riding at RedBud for about 20 years. For him, the fans are tops.

“The fans at RedBud are second to none in pretty much the whole world for motocross racing,” explained Wey.

Despite the record breaking temperatures and extreme heat, some 20,000 fans are expected to pile in to the small town of Buchanan on Saturday. And for the staff at RedBud, taking care of their dedicated fans is a top priority.

The trailers are filled with iced chairs and cooling tents. The tents will be set up throughout the spectator area for anyone who needs to cool down fast.

“They’re not misters,” explained Ritchie. “They’re actually just air conditioned tents so they can just go in and drink some water and cool off and go back to watching the race!”

With so many heat precautions for the fans, what about the gear-clad riders?

“I think you just try and do the best you can as far as preparation coming into the race,” explained Wey. “Get yourself in top physical condition as best you can and beyond that, all you can do is stay hydrated.”

Wey said the racers look like they’re wearing a lot more gear than they are, but it’s still pretty hot, especially sitting on top of a 200 pound bike that heats up to about 200 degrees.